A recent study published in Annals of Behavioral Medicine found that worry about deportations is associated with multiple cardiovascular health risk factors in Latinas. The study, which gathered data from 545 women enrolled in the CHAMACOS cohort, found that those who were more concerned had higher waist circumferences and blood pressure.
Researchers found that high atmospheric oxygen levels were not critical to the origin of animals, but rather occurred between 540 and 420 million years ago. The transition to a world with an oxygenated deep ocean required significant changes in atmospheric O2 levels, which approached modern levels around 400 million years ago.
Researchers successfully used CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing to disable a defective gene causing amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in mice, extending their lifespan by 25% and delaying the onset of muscle-wasting symptoms. The therapy targeted motor neurons, allowing for rescue of these critical cells and enabling improved muscle function.
Research at UC Berkeley found that older adults' slow brainwaves during deep sleep fail to synchronize with speedy electrical bursts, preventing them from effectively consolidating new memories. The aging brain's failure to coordinate these two brain waves is likely due to degradation or atrophy of the medial frontal cortex.
A study led by UC Berkeley researchers found that a small pool of immune cells remain alive for years after vaccination, developing unique features such as methylation patterns to keep them primed and ready to respond to the same microbe. This discovery may help scientists develop better vaccines and understand differences among diseases.
A study by UC Berkeley researchers found that just 11% of California's community-based pharmacies offer birth control services, with most charging a fee for the service. The legislation aims to make it easier for women to access contraception without seeing a doctor first.
Researchers at UC Berkeley found that blackbody radiation from a warm object can attract cesium atoms, with an effect 20 times stronger than gravity. This discovery has implications for precise measurements of fundamental constants and tests of general relativity.
Research expedition tracked endangered tigers through Sumatran jungles, finding low density populations clinging to survival. Well-protected forests are disappearing and fragmenting, erasing tiger habitat gains, mainly due to oil palm plantations.
Recent observations of four colliding galaxies in the Abell 3827 cluster suggest that SIMPs, strongly interacting massive particles, may be a new candidate for the universe's elusive dark matter. SIMPs would interact strongly with themselves via gravity but weakly with normal matter, overcoming a major failing of WIMP theory.
Researchers at UC Berkeley have developed a robotic learning technology called visual foresight, enabling robots to predict and manipulate objects they've never seen before. This breakthrough allows for autonomous learning of complex skills without human supervision or prior knowledge.
Researchers found that California birds are breeding five to 12 days earlier than a century ago, producing eggs and young at lower temperatures. This adaptation allows birds to avoid the negative effects of climate warming.
Researchers at UC Berkeley and University of Toronto have discovered lipid mediators that may halt glaucoma progression. The study found that lipoxins A4 and B4 secreted by astrocytes can stop retinal ganglion cell degeneration, offering a potential treatment for this neurodegenerative disease.
Researchers will count and catalog cell types in mouse brain using single-cell transcriptomics, aiming to build a comprehensive atlas of cell types that can be applied to the human brain.
The study found that the giant saguaro, organ pipe, senita, and cardón have scrambled family relationships due to long generation times. However, some similarities like succulent flesh were retained by some cacti through ancient genes.
A new study by researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, found that gun-related deaths and injuries in California spiked after Nevada gun shows. The study, which analyzed data from 2005 to 2013, showed a nearly 70% increase in firearm injury rates in California near Nevada gun shows compared to regions without such exposure.
Researchers found mosquitoes make stealthy takeoffs with barely a push-off, instead relying on strong wing beats for lift. They can carry blood meals without issue, using sweeping wing movements to generate extra lift.
The detection of light from a neutron star merger reveals the formation of heavy elements like gold and platinum. The observations support theoretical predictions and provide new insights into astrophysics.
Researchers found that maternal fever increases the risk of heart defects and facial deformities, with fever itself interfering with heart and jaw development. Acetaminophen may help reduce this risk if taken judiciously during pregnancy.
Researchers at UC Berkeley are building a new MRI brain scanner with improved resolution, allowing them to image functional regions in the cortex and connect individual neurons. The new scanner will enable studies of human brain function and circuitry on a finer scale.
A new UC Berkeley study found that serving time behind bars increases likelihood of return to prison, often due to technical parole violations. The research suggests that alternatives to imprisonment for parole violators, such as treatment programs or community service, might slow down the revolving door.
Researchers have developed a new CRISPR delivery system, CRISPR-Gold, that can repair the mutation causing Duchenne muscular dystrophy. The system achieves an 18-times-higher correction rate and improves muscle strength and agility in mice.
Researchers identify REC3 domain as a master controller of DNA cutting and engineer mutations to improve accuracy without impacting efficiency. The hyper-accurate gene editor, dubbed HypaCas9, retains on-target efficiency while discriminating between on- and off-target sites in human cells.
Fox squirrels separate each cache into quasi subfolders for different types of nuts, suggesting they use flexible strategies to store food depending on how they acquire it. This cognitive strategy allows them to maximize their ability to remember where they've stored their most prized treats.
Researchers have created a new material that can absorb carbon monoxide more effectively than other materials, with potential applications in syngas production and reactions where CO is an unwanted contaminant. The material uses less energy to capture and reuse CO compared to existing technologies.
Researchers found 27 distinct dimensions of emotion that account for hundreds of people's reported feelings in response to video clips. The study challenges the notion that emotions are finite clusters and instead reveals smooth gradients between emotions.
Scientists have discovered that bacteria can act as an aphrodisiac for choanoflagellates, one-celled marine organisms notable for being the closest living relative of all animals. The discovery reveals how these eukaryotes regulate their life history in response to bacterial cues.
A study by UC Berkeley researchers found that reference pricing is effective in reducing patient spending on prescription drugs. The policy promotes the use of cheaper alternatives over brand-name options, resulting in a 7% increase in prescriptions filled for low-price reference drugs and a 14% decrease in average price paid.
New research reveals a two-step process for cell immortalization and cancer development, with telomerase playing a complex role. Telomerase levels are insufficient to lengthen all telomeres, leading to genomic instability and tumor formation.
A UC Berkeley PhD candidate has developed techniques to identify adult ads linked to human trafficking rings by analyzing Bitcoin payment data. The algorithm, which combines stylometry and timestamp analysis, shows a high true-positive rate for grouping ads by author.
Research links elemental sulfur use to poorer respiratory health in children living near farms that apply the pesticide, with significant associations found between sulfur use and asthma-related symptoms. The study suggests urgent need for more research and possible changes to regulations and application methods.
A new study from UC Berkeley research finds that people who habitually accept their negative emotions experience fewer negative emotions, leading to better psychological health. The study tested over 1,300 adults and found those who avoid acknowledging dark emotions report more mood disorder symptoms.
A study led by the University of California, Berkeley, found that people with mental illness reoffend less if placed on specialty probation, a program using individualized treatment-oriented approaches. Specialty probationers had a 52% recidivism rate over two years compared to 29% for traditional probationers.
Researchers discovered a massive storm system near Neptune's equator, about 1/3 the size of Neptune's radius, with bright clouds forming at low latitudes. This unexpected feature was observed during twilight and is thought to be linked to high-pressure dark vortex systems.
A new US study reveals that noise pollution is most prevalent in black neighborhoods and segregated cities, with a strong correlation between noise levels and race. The research found that neighborhoods with higher proportions of black residents had higher median night-time noise levels.
Researchers discovered how Cas1-Cas2 proteins insert viral DNA into CRISPR region by relying on flexible Cas1 protein, IHF binding, and DNA bending, allowing proper storage of 'memories' of prior viral infections. This finding opens doors for modification of the proteins to redirect them to other sequences.
The study reveals that even spacing of cell clumps is set by the gentle tug of war among cells as an organism grows, triggering genes that produce follicles and feathers. This discovery could lead to creating artificial skin with hair follicles and sweat pores for grafts.
A new antibody-based assay developed by researchers at UC Berkeley and Humabs BioMed has shown very high sensitivity and specificity in distinguishing Zika virus infections from those caused by similar viruses. The test is simple, cost-effective, and can be used to detect both recent and past Zika virus infections.
Researchers discovered anti-CRISPR proteins that decrease off-target side effects by up to four-fold, acting as a kill switch to disable CRISPR-Cas9 after its job is done. Delivering CRISPR and then the protein reduces off-target effects in human cells.
A recent study found that stress can amplify the health effects of toxic chemical exposure, leading to higher risks of low birth weight babies. The research suggests that poverty-related stress may make people more susceptible to environmental health hazards, highlighting an important consideration for policymakers and regulators.
A recent study found that mice who lost their sense of smell gained less weight on a high-fat diet compared to those with normal smell. The researchers used gene therapy to temporarily destroy olfactory neurons, and the smell-deficient mice rapidly burned calories by up-regulating their sympathetic nervous system.
A new study reveals that most frog species descended from just three lineages that survived the mass extinction event, with rapid radiation occurring due to available environmental niches. The loss of dinosaurs led to the rise of trees and flowering plants, which in turn favored the evolution of frogs.
Scientists at UC Berkeley and UC Riverside have developed a gene editing technique using CRISPR/Cas9 technology to suppress mosquitoes carrying diseases like malaria. The new technique, multiplexing, can target multiple locations in a gene simultaneously, increasing the effectiveness of gene drive systems.
Researchers at UC Berkeley have mapped over 1,100 years of metaphoric English language to identify patterns in how humans create and understand metaphorical meaning. This study paves the way for future advances in artificial intelligence and natural language processing systems like Siri.
Researchers at UC Berkeley reconstructed a mouse's whisker map of its surroundings, revealing a new layer of spatial awareness. This discovery may have implications for understanding how humans perceive space and navigate their environment.
A new study from the University of California, Berkeley found that dementia patients tend to die sooner when cared for by family members with depression or anxiety. The study tracked 176 patients and their caregiver mental health over several years, revealing a strong link between patient survival and caregiver well-being.
Researchers found that seasonal stress changes, caused by winter rains and summer rebound, lead to an increase in small earthquakes along California faults. The study used regional global positioning system data to calculate stresses due to water loads, revealing a correlation between peak stress and seismicity.
Research suggests dressmakers have superior stereovision, improving visual acuity by 43%. This sharpens their ability to thread needles and navigate 3D spaces.
Researchers found that nearly all sunlike stars form with a companion, but these companions often escape and merge with other stars. The study's findings have implications for the origins of galaxies and suggest that many stars are born in pairs, like our sun and its long-lost sibling.
Researchers at UC Berkeley created a robot called DexNet 2.0 that can pick up and move unfamiliar objects with high accuracy, using deep learning to learn grasps for 6.7 million 3D shapes.
A University of California, Berkeley study found that puberty hormones can reduce brain plasticity in young girls, potentially affecting their ability to learn and adapt. The study suggests that the early onset of puberty, driven by factors like stress and obesity, may have broad implications for girls' education and health.